Syracuse, NY -- A Syracuse man who surprisingly pleaded guilty to murder on his first day of trial now wants to withdraw that plea, his lawyer said today in court.

There's little question that George Alfred shot to death Corey Hill inside a Steuben Street residence last year occupied by Alfred's estranged wife.

Alfred blasted his way June 23 into 128 Steuben St. and found his wife, Tanya, in her bedroom with Hill, Senior Assistant District Attorney Melinda McGunnigle has said. Alfred then shot Hill once in the head and twice in the back, according to the prosecutor.

He then kidnapped his terrified wife and drove her to Pennsylvania before letting her go. Alfred took a bus from Philadelphia back to Syracuse before turning himself in, with his mother by his side.

Alfred fought the murder charges until the first day of his trial March 31. Offered one last chance to resolve the case, Alfred pleaded guilty to second-degree murder. He was promised a sentence of 20 years to life in state prison.

That's still better than his worst-case scenario at trial: a first-degree murder conviction with a sentence of life without chance of parole.

Corey Hill (left) with his friend, Joe DiFino.Provided photo

But since his plea, Alfred has had second thoughts. Today, his lawyer Ralph Cognetti told the judge that he'd had "18 to 20" conversations with his client, but they didn't see eye to eye.

Alfred was supposed to be sentenced today. But instead, he wanted to withdraw his plea.

For his part, Cognetti was struggling to find a legal reason to do so, as required under law.

Judge Joseph Fahey asked them both to give it one more shot in court today. But after another private conversation, Cognetti asked the judge for time so Alfred could put his thoughts into writing.

If the lawyer could find a legal reason to allow Alfred to withdraw the plea, he'd send his arguments into the judge.

Fahey asked them to come back to court May 7.

After court, Alfred's mother, Queen Alfred, indicated that her son felt like he was forced into a plea and did not make it voluntarily.